LAUSR

Abstract The fabrication of Ti-based alloys with enhanced properties for extreme applications is an insatiable quest in the materials engineering field. Optimization of powder metallurgical processing routes is an area of interest for more efficient and cost effective manufacturing techniques. Ti-Zr-Ta alloys of different characteristics have been synthesized from their elemental powders, using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS): Temperature (1100 °C), Pressure (50 MPa) and holding times (5 min and 10 min) respectively. Microstructures, chemical and phase analyses were conducted using FE-SEM, EDS, Oxygen analyser and XRD. Results revealed significant amount of martensite phase evolution irrespective of the holding time. The evolution of β-Ti phase and decrease in oxygen contents was also noticed with the addition of Ta. Relative density measurement conducted using Archimedes principle revealed the bulk samples had densifications close to theoretical values and micro-hardness of significantly high magnitudes (above 500 Hv). This suggests the suitability of the fabricated products for applications requiring high hardness parameters such in dental technologies.